News

- Contributing to improvements in Myanmar’s communication network through the
provision of leading edge transmission equipment -

Tokyo, May 15, 2014 - Sumitomo Corporation, NTT Communications Corporation and NEC Corporation have today been awarded the 42nd International Telecommunication Union - Association of Japan (ITU-AJ) Award (International Cooperation Field Accomplishment), by the ITU-AJ for contributions to the "Project for Urgent Improvement of Communication Networks" in Myanmar.

This project was completed in January 2014 and marks the first infrastructure construction project to utilize overseas development assistance from Japan following the Japanese government’s change in economic cooperation policy with Myanmar from 2012.

In this project, Sumitomo Corporation, NTT Communications Corporation, and NEC Corporation, formed a consortium to install the equipment necessary for supporting communication infrastructure and improving the environment for accessing the internet.

As a result of building this communication infrastructure, there has been a significant improvement in the infrastructure that supports economic activity and daily life in Myanmar. This communications infrastructure has already delivered smooth telecommunications for the 27th SEA Games, which took place in Myanmar in December 2013. Moreover, Myanmar holds the chairmanship of ASEAN for 2014, hosting a wide range of international conferences and capitalizing on its newly implemented communications infrastructure.

Looking to the future, Sumitomo Corporation, NTT Communications Corporation and NEC Corporation aim to continue contributing to the development of Myanmar’s communication infrastructure as part of elevating the country’s international presence and expanding new social and business opportunities.

About Sumitomo Corporation

Sumitomo Corporation is a leading general trading company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with 116 locations in 65 countries and 24 domestic locations. The Sumitomo Corporation Group consists of nearly 800 companies and more than 70,000 personnel, and its business is continuously expanding into a diverse range of products and services. Its core business units are Metal Products; Transportation & Construction Systems; Environment & Infrastructure; Media, Network, Lifestyle Related Goods & Services; and Mineral Resources, Energy, Chemical & Electronics.

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.